Sure, it’s impossible not to recognize nameplates such as Accord, Range Rover or Testarossa. Even people who don’t even care for the car world could tell those are automobiles, whether for seeing them in the streets or only in pictures. Using a strong name is an excellent way to build a solid image for a product in the market, and this is what even the companies with the smallest marketing departments seek. However, coming up with a nameplate that good is getting each time harder, and for several reasons. One of them is the simple fact that there are more products being released each year, which makes difficult even to create an unused name. After that, globalization has added the tiny requisite of your name sounding good in the entire world.
Therefore, instead of risking the vehicle’s reputation with name choices as Nova, Laputa, Pajero or Pinto, most automakers rely on the lack of meaning of some numbers and letters put together. Besides, when we restrict the analysis to those which are still building their image, this strategy winds up offering another advantage: it’s much easier for the customer to tell the most expensive cars from the least. The very Peugeot and Citroën, to give an example, use bigger numbers according to the model’s category. Given that one of the French company’s efforts towards being globally competitive once again is to project the DS lineup as a regular luxury division, the safest way would certainly include one more application of alphanumeric names.
Talking about names is so important because this vehicle expresses its whole concept with its own. The number, restricted between 1 and 10, drops the idea of being the entry-level car while still leaving room for one or two bigger brothers. The “WR” should refer to the body type, since they stand for Luxury Sedan on DS 5LS. And if you still had any doubt of what was Citroën’s intention with this premium lineup, check this car’s full name once again, at the top of this page: the “DS” is placed just in the middle, a whole blank away from the parent company and from the particular information of each car. This is why this crossover is referred to simply as “DS 6WR”, actually – the more you think it looks as if DS was the automaker, the better this job was done.
If you want to start talking about the vehicle itself, then you should put “Wild Rubis” in your thoughts. The actual model is a little smaller, but took most of its design inspiration from the widely-praised concept-car. 6WR uses that signature front grille once again, whose three-dimensional layout mingles with the headlights a little bit and joins the discreet lower portion on a very solid look. The sides reveal this crossover will target Audi Q3, BMW X3, Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLA, not to mention Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: the absence of many elements aid to an imponent feeling, while details as stretching the roof rack to the rear windshield gives a touch of the design boldness for which Citroën has been known for decades.
The rear fascia is also more discreet here than at the concept-car, and takes most of the attention to the couple of lights with three-dimensional effect. Being 4.55-m long, 1.86-m wide and 1.61-m tall makes DS 6WR bigger than those intended competitors, which follows Citroën’s intention of making up for the smaller prestige at that category. There isn’t any information regarding the interior yet, but it’s highly expected to resemble the sedan’s, whether on overall design, color-scheme options and equipment list. But you can already consider that leather coating, top-notch infotainment central, panoramic sunroof and a set of electronic systems will be offered here, whether as standard or optional items.
“6WR”, to make Citroën happy, will always use the omnipresent direct-injected, four-cylinder and turbocharged 1.6L engine: the standard version reaches 197 hp, while the e-THP should repeat the 225-hp hybrid system seen under Wild Rubis’ hood. There will be a six-speed automatic transmission and the Grip Control system, which is claimed to satisfy the need for all-wheel-drive – this is a car which knows its audience. Citroën will start to sell the latest DS concoction only in China, with local production at the city of Shenzhen side-by-side with the sedan and DS5. But it wouldn’t be strange at all if it continues the company’s expansion plans by reaching Europe, some months later.